Device for automatically closing locomotive-valves.



T. W. GRIFFIN & (I. J. RATHERS. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSINGLOGOMO'IIVE VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

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THOMAS W. GRIFFIN, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, AND CURTIS I. RATHERS, OF

SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING LOCOMOTIVE-VALVES.

retrace.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. Grinrrm and (loans J. RATHnns, citizensof the United States, and residents, respectively, of Springfield, inthe county of Greene and State of Missouri, and Sapulpa, in the countyof Greek and State of Oklahoma, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Automatically Closing Locomotive- Valves, ofwhich the following is a specification.

@ur present invention relates to the valved cab fittings of alocomotive, and more particularly to those fittings including valveswhich are normally open and which communicate with parts likely to bebroken as the result of accident, such as for instance, collisions, ourobject being to provide connections by which the certain valves may beautomatically closed simultaneously with the application of theemergency air brake.

With this obj eot in view our invention resides in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as clearly indicated in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in whichthe figure is a vertical sectional view through the cab end of alocomotive boiler illustrating the particular valved fittings to whichour invention is to be applied, and showing the connections in diagramfor etl'ecting their automatic actuation.

Referring now to this figure, A represents the emergency air brake leveroperating on the segment A adjacent to a valve casing B which isdisposed between portions of a pipe U having connection at one end withthe train pipe. In the valve casing B is arranged a valve Z) having anupwardly and exteriorly projecting stem 6', the extremity of which isdisposed in the path or movement of the lever A and is adapted to bestruck and moved by the same when the lever is moved to the operativeposition as indicated in dotted lines, this movement resulting in theopening of the valve and the admission of train pipe pressure within andthrough the pipe C. At its opposite end the pipe C is provided withbranches 0 and c, the former of which leads to one end of a cylinder Dmounted upon the boiler and having therein a piston (Z, the outwardlyprojecting stem d of which has a rack bar (Z In its normal position therack bar 03 is engaged with a gear e mounted upon the Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 728,689.

stem 6 of the fountain valve E, said valve stem (2 having a threadedconnection at 6 within its casing and carrying a valve piece 6 at itslower end. It may therefore be seen that when pressure is admittedthrough the pipe C to its branch 0, the piston d is forced outwardly androtation is imparted to the valve stem 6 through the rack bar (Z2 andthe gear 6, such rotation resulting in a movement of the valve stem toclose the valve owing to its threaded connection at 6 The branch 0 ofpipe C leads to a cylinder 1 mounted upon the inner end of the boilerand opens into said cylinder at substantially a central point betweenthe pistons f and the stems f of which extend vertically through theends of the cylinder in relatively opposite directions.

Each 01 the stems f is axially alined with a valve controlling rod Gjo-urnaled vertically through the valve casing H establishingcommunication between the respective end of the gage glass I andinterior of the boiler, and which communication may as usual becontrolled by a hand valve J. During the operation, however, the endvalve J remains open in case of collision, as there is generally hardlymore time than is necessary to set the brakes.

Each of the controlling members G is provided with an intermediatecircular groove 9 which, in the normal position of the parts, is at oneside of the casing H. At the inner end of the casing H is arranged abearing it for the stem 72 of a valve K, this valve extending within theboiler and being adapted for outward movement to seat against the innerend of the casing H by the pressure within the boiler. The stem K ispositioned axially of the casing H and contacts with the controllingmember Gr whereby the valve K is normally maintained in open position asclearly illustrated. Thus the parts are normally held in position sothat the operation of the gage is unobstructed. Should the emergencybrakes be applied, however, air pressure admitted to the pipe C asbefore stated, will pass through the branch a and into the cylinder Fforcing the pistons f and f to move in relatively opposite directions.Such movement will be transmitted through the rods f to the valvecontrolling members G, and will result in their actuation to positionswherein the circular grooves g are opposite the stems in of the valvesK,

thus permitting the latter to close by the pressure within the boiler.The controlling members G are normally held in inoperative position bysmall springs g. Thus from the foregoing it will be seen that should acollision appear imminent, the engineman will naturally set theemergency brakes and this operation will automatically close the valveswithin those cab fittings which, if broken by the collision, wouldpermit the escape of steam and water from the boiler capable of scaldingthe occupants of the cab.

We claim;

1. A device of the character described,

- comprising the combination with valved cab fittings, the valves ofwhich are normally open, and a source of supply, of connections wherebyto automatically close the valves upon the application of the emergencybrakes, and prevent the escape of steam and boiler water. into the cabin the event that the ttin s are broken.

2. A devi'e of the character described, comprising the combination withvalved cab fittings the valves of which are normally open, and a sourceof air supply, of connections whereby to automatically close the valvesupon the application of the emergeneyv air brakes, and simultaneouslywith such application, for the purpose of preventing the escape of steamand boiler water into the cab should the fittings be broken.

3, A device of the character described, comprising the combination witha water gage having outwardly closing valves at its ends extendingwithin the boiler and adapted to be seated by the pressure therein, anda source of air supply, of means to normally prevent the said valvesfrom closing and connections whereby to move the. said valve Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for controlling means and permit the valvesto close upon the application of the emergency brakes, for the purposeof preventing the escape of steam and boiler Water into the cab shouldthe gage be broken.

4:. A device of the character described, comprising the combination witha fountain valve which is normally open and has a gear upon its stem,and a source of air supply, of a piston cylinder, a rack bar engagingthe gear of the valve stem and actuated by the piston in its movement,and connections between the said air supply and the said piston cylinderwhereby to move the piston and cause the valve to be seated upon theapplication of the emergency air brakes in order to prevent the escapeof steam from the boiler into the cab should the fountain pipe bebroken.

5. A device of the character described, comprising the combination withvalved cab fittings, the valves of which are normally open, and a sourceof supply, of connections whereby to automatically and simultaneouslyclose the valves upon the application of the emergency air brakes,including a pipe leading from the. said source of air supply, and anormally closed valve arranged in the path of the emergency brake leverto be engaged and moved by the same when in the emergency position.

' THOMAS WV. GRIFFIN.

CURTIS J. RATHERS.

\Vitnesses for Thomas WV. Griffin:

G. A. lVAL'rnRHoUsE, J. O. ENGLAND.

lVitnesses for C. J. Rather-s: J ESSIE M. HOUSTON, HARRISON ARNOLD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

6 Washington, D. 0.

